Eddie Gets a Job — Almost 埃迪碰钉子

Hotshot Eddie needed money to buy a new guitar. His old one was on its last legs, and if he wanted to become a famous rock star, he needed the right equipment.

Eddie went to his mother and put his cards on the table, asking her for the money to buy a new guitar. His mother refused point-blank. She told him that if he wanted to live a successful life, he should try harder.

Next, Eddie turned to his sister, Gillian. She was a smart cookie, and Eddie felt sure she would be able to suggest something. He was right. Gillian told him to get a part-time job at Billy’s Burgers. “Great idea” said Eddie. “How much do they pay?”

“Peanuts,” said Gillian. “It will take you years to save up enough money for a guitar, but at least you’ll have something to do. Now go away. I’m trying to read.”

自命不凡的埃迪需要钱买把新吉他。他的旧吉他快报废了，而如果他想成为一名著名的摇滚明星，他需要合适的装备。埃迪去找他妈妈说明事实，向她要钱买把新吉他。他母亲直截了当地拒绝了他。她告诉埃迪如果他想过功成名就的日子，他就该多加把劲。接着埃迪向他妹妹吉莉安求助。她是个聪明的家伙，埃迪相信她能提出好的建议。他猜对了。吉莉安叫他去比利汉堡店打工。 “好主意！” 埃迪说。“他们付多少钱？”“少得可怜。” 吉莉安说，“你得用好几年才能存够钱买把吉他，但至少你会有事情做。现在快走开。我要看书了。”

One-eyed Doe 独眼鹿

A one-eyed doe was grazing near the river. She kept her one eye on the land to watch out for hunters. She kept the other side of her face towards the river because she never saw hunters coming from the river. However, she didn’t see the boat on the river with sailors in it. When they got close enough, one of them shot her with his rifle. She lay there dying, and with her last few breaths, said, “My God! I expected an attack from land, but it turns out I was safe from that. I took the river for granted, so I didn’t watch it. My enemy came from the one place I least expected!”

MORAL: Danger often comes from a source that is least expected.

—based on a story from “Aesop’s Fables”

一只独眼母鹿正在河边吃草。她用一只眼睛对着陆地，注意看有没有猎人。她脸的另一侧眼睛则对着河流，因为她从未见猎人从河里出现。可是她没有看到河上载着水手的船。当水手们靠近她时，其中一人射杀了她。她躺在那儿奄奄一息。用仅存的几口气说道：“天哪！我以为攻击会来自陆上，结果我却毫发无损。我以为河流这边一定安全，所以我没有注意。我的敌人居然来自最出乎我意料的地方！”

寓意：最安全的地方往往是最危险的地方。

─根据《伊索寓言》故事改编

The Bald Guy  秃头先生

Once there was an old guy, who was growing old and starting to lose his hair. By the time he had gone completely bald, he decided to cover his bald head with a wig.

One day, he went out hunting with some friends. A strong wind suddenly blew his wig off. When his friends saw what had happened, they started laughing so hard that they could not stop.

The bald guy started laughing, too, and just as loudly as the other men. He said to his friends, “How can I expect my fake hair to stay on my head when even my real hair won’t stay there?”

从前有个老先生，随着年龄的增长开始掉头发。当他的头发全掉光后，他决定戴顶假发遮掩他的秃头。一天，他和一些朋友一起去打猎。突然一阵强风吹走了他的假发。他的朋友看到这样的情景，全都乐得大笑不止。秃头的先生也开始大笑起来，而且和其他人一样出声大笑。他对朋友说：“连我的真发都不肯留在我的头顶上，我又怎能奢望我的假发会留在那儿呢？”